ATWS, or the Summit, is a conference that is the preeminent place to network with adventure-based tour operators and media from around the world, further your personal development and knowledge of the trends in adventure travel, and help promote your company’s adventure product to the adventure travel industry’s influencers and decision-makers. It is not a traditional trade show.

The Summit is a four-day conference that kicks off with a “Day of Adventure,” giving attendees the opportunity to casually connect and network with other delegates as well as get a taste of Tuscany. The conference days that follow are jam-packed with educational sessions, inspirational speakers and networking events, a MARKETPLACE (supplier tables at an additional cost to registration), MediaConnect, and entertainment. MARKETPLACE is a one-day event (on 16th October 2018); sign-ups are on a first-come first-serve basis.

MARKETPLACE is a small, intimate environment that works to connect both suppliers and buyers. Similar to “speed dating” but with an emphasis on quality over quantity, your MARKETPLACE experience with be made up of up to 13 separate 17-minute meetings, and will provide a great atmosphere for introductions, learning about new opportunities and engaging in product development discussions. Summit Connections is step one to having a great Marketplace experience. Reaching out to buyers you wish to meet with prior to the Appointment Request process is step two – the more you reach out in advance the more meetings you will have on-site. Utilize the “Message” feature on the app to reach out to buyers and ask them to request you as requests will be approved based on Buyer – Supplier matches. ATTA does its best to provide as many requested appointments as possible but due to the popularity of certain delegates, full schedules and exact requests are not guaranteed. You are able to add or rearrange meetings after your schedule has been delivered through Summit Connections.

Summit Connections will be your best tool in making any change to your MARKETPLACE schedule. Your meetings will be uploaded to your Summit Connections profile in the “Meetings” section. You can add/cancel/change any meetings from this tab.

Please Note: Within the conference agenda, there are numerous other opportunities to network – during the Day of Adventures, the social events and meals, and more. As a delegate you have access to Summit Connections, an app and website, which allows you to start networking immediately. Additionally, the sessions are full of information to help you improve your business, and the MediaConnect networking session could be worth the price of admission alone, as you’ll be able to meet editorial staff from many publications.